Automatic starting mechanism



'Novl l2, 1935. v D. L. wER'rz 2,020,750

, AUTOMATIC STARTING MEcHANIs-u Filed March 30, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNIT-ED STATES 4PATEN'I OFFICE Machine Company, Elmira,

oi.' New York N. Y., a corporation Application Much 30, 1932, ser-m No. 602,013 v 11 cum. (c1. 20c-s1) This invention relates to automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a time delay for preventing actuation of the starting mechanism until a predetermined time after the engine has come substantially to rest.

In certain forms of automatic starting' mechanism as heretofore designed, the engagement of the starting mechanism has been allowed to take n place as soon as forward rotation of the engine stopped without waiting for the rocking of the ilywheel to cease. Under these circumstances it is possible for the starting mechanism to engage during a back rock of the flywheel, which would cause unnecessary and undesirable stresses on the starting mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic starting mechanism in` which means are provided for preventing actuation of the starting mechanism until a predetermined time after the engine has come to rest.

It is another object to provide such as device which is -operated electrically and does n ot depend on mechanical retarding elements.

; A further object is to provide such a device which is simple and economical in construction and reliable and efllcient in operation over long periods of use.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the -flgure is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

i Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a starting system comprising a battery I grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to an automatic starting mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 4. The automatic starting mechanism r comprises a magnetic starting switch I connected to the lead 3, and connected by a lead l to a single turn coil 1 which in turn is connected by a lead 8 to a starting motor SM which is grounded at 9 to complete the starting circuit.

i The 'startingswltch 5 is adapted to be operated by means of a solenoid Il which is included in a control circuit comprising a battery I, lead I, lead I2, manual switch I3, lead I4, normally open thermostatic contacts Il, Il, leads I1 and Il and normally closed relay contacts comprising ilxed contact I9 and relay plunger 20 which is grounded as indicated at 2l to completethe control circuit.

Means are provided for breaking the ground connection; in order to open the control circuit L when 'the' enginestailjtsjff taining the circuit open as -long as the engine is running under its own power, and for closing the control circuit in case of engine stall. The means for opening the control circuit when the engine starts comprises a solenoid coil 22 connected by a lead 23 to the 5 motor lead 9 and grounded as indicated at 24. This coil is energized when the starting switch is closed but its action is opposed by the single turn coil 1 which, while traversed by the heavy cranking current, retains the plunger 20 in its 10 closed position. When the engine starts, however, the single turn coil 1 is weakened by the reduction in cranking current so that coil 22 is enabled to withdraw the plunger 20 and open the control circuit.

The plunger is retained in its retracted position while the starting motor is decelerating by reason of a small amount of current which is generated by the starting motor while spinning by momentum. When the engine becomes self-op- 20 erative, the generator driven thereby actuates a coil 25 to retain"the plunger in its retracted position as long as the engine is self-operative. Should the engine stall for any reason, the coil 22 becomes deenergized and the plunger 20 is raised 25 to its normal or `closed position by suitable means such as a spring 26.

According to the present invention means are provided for normally maintaining the control circuit open. and for closing said circuit a predetermined time after closure of both the manual `switch. I2 and contacts i9, 20. As here shown,

this means takes the form of a thermostatic element 21 'xed at one end as indicated at-2 and carrying at its free end the contact I5 and a twin 35 Y vheated and thereby be bent upward.

A second thermostatic element is arranged opposite the element 21 and carries at its free end the contact I6 in juxtaposition to contact I5 and adapted to be engaged thereby when the first thermostatic element 21 is heated. Con- -tact I0 is connected to a heating coil which in turn is connected to the lead I1 of the control circuit whereby closure of the control circuit causes the second thermostatic element 35 to be 55 heated and contact I6 moved thereby4 away :from contact I5.

Means are provided for holding contacts I5, I6 closed during the cranking operation, such means being illustrated as an armature.31 of magnetic material fixed in any suitable way to the thermostatic element 21 adjacent the lower end of solenoid I I so as to be in the magnetic iield thereof. Energization oi said solenoid will thus attract the armature 31 and hold the contact I5 against the contact I6 in spite of any upward motion oi the latter vdue to the heating eiect of the coil 35 on the thermostatic element 35. It will be noted that since the heating coil 3l of the thermostatic element 21 is in the control circuit when the latter is closed, said thermostatic element will continue to be heated thereby during the cranking oi the engine so that when the control circuit is broken by the starting of the engine, and the armature 31 is released by the deenergization of the solenoid II, the thermostatic element 21 will not at once resume its normal position but will merely spring back part way, and the heating circuit through contacts 29, 32 will not be reclosed until the thermostatic element 21 has cooled off. The springing back oi said element upon release of the armature 31, however, is suicientto open the thermostatic contacts I5, I6 which remain open until both thermostatic elements 21 and 35 have cooled oiI.

In the operation of the device and starting with the parts in their normal or idle positions as illustrated, closure oi the manual switch I3 closes the heating circuit from the battery I through leads 3, I2 and I4 to the heating coil 3l', and through contacts 29, 32 and lead 33 to the fixed relay contact I9 which is grounded by the relay plunger 20. The coil 3| immediately becornes heated and imparts this heat to the thermostatic element 21 which thereupon is deflected upward, opening contacts 2S, 32 and closing contacts l5, I5. It will be understood that the initial heating effect of the coil 3I while contacts 29, 32 are closed, is not transmitted instantaneously to the thermostatic element 21 but that there is a time lag in the transmission of heat from the coil to the thermostatic element whereby the heating eiect on the element persists and the temperature oi the element continues to rise for an appreciable interval after contacts 29, 32 are opened. This interval has been found to be ample to secure effective closure of contacts I5, I6.

Closure oi contacts I5, I6 completes the control circuit through heating coil 36, lead I1, solenoid II, lead I8 and contacts i9, 20 to the ground at 2|. Solenoid II is thereby energized to close the starting switch for cranking the engine. Energization of the heating coll 3B by closure of the control circuit causes the thermostatlc element 35 to be detlectedto move contact IG away from contact i5, but the attraction of armature 31 by solenoid II holds these contacts closed as long as the control circuit is completed. Heating coil 3I is also kept warm by 'the'ilow of current through the control circuit, but as above explained, the thermostatic element 21 is not heated sufficiently to cause the contact I5 to follow the contact I3 without the assistance o! the armature 31.

When the engine starts, relay plunger 23 is retracted by the coil 22, thus breaking the ground connection I3, 20 and opening the control circuit. The solenoid II is thus deenergized, allowing the starting switch 5 to open and releasing the armature 31 whereby contact I5 springs, away from contact IS.

In case oi a false start, as when the engine stops after an initial explosion or two, the relay plunger 20 closes as soon as the starting motor has come to rest, but the control circuit is not completed thereby since the contacts I5, I6 are now open; and the heating circuit ior the coil 3l is not completed since contacts 29, 32 are still open. Cooling cti of the thermostatic element 21 after a predetermined time closes contacts 29, 32 completing the heating circuit and causing the contacts I5, I6 to be closed again as above described.

When the engine becomes properly self-operative, the relay plunger 20 is maintained in its open position by means of the generator coil 25, so that coolingofi of the thermostatic elements to their normal positions does not close either the heating circuit or the control circuit. Thereafter, in case of engine stall, the starting operation is repeated after a predetermined time as measuredby the heating period of the coil 3|, which is arranged to be sufficient to allow the engine to come completely to rest.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and changes may be made in the structural details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

1. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including two automatic switches in series, closure of both being necessary to complete the control circuit and thereby close the starting switch, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for opening one of said automatic switches, and means for closing the other automatic switch a predetermined time after reclosure of said first switch.

2. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including two automatic switches in series, closure of both being necessary to complete the control circuit and thereby close the starting switch, one of said switches being normally closed, means responsive to selioperationv of the engine for opening said switch; and the other switch being normally open, and means for closing the latter switch a predetermined time aiter reclosure of the first switch responsive to engine stall.

3. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including three switches in series, closure of all three being necessary to complete the control circuit and thereby close the starting switch, one of said switches being manually controlled, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for opening another Vof said switches, and means for closing the third switch a predetermined time after the closure ot both the rlrst mentioned switches.

. 70 4. Automatic starting mechanism for internal a manual switch, a normally open switch and a 7";

normally closed switch, closure of all said switches being necessary to complete the.eontrol circuit; means whereby closure of the manual switch causes closure of the normally open switch after a predetermined time delay and means responsive to self-operation of the engine for opening said normally closed switch.

5. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a starting circuit having a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including a manual switch, a normally open switch and a normally closed switch, closure of all said switches being necessary to complete the control circuit; means whereby closure of the manual switch causes closure oi the normally open switch after a predetermined time, and means responsive to selfoperation of the engine for opening said normally closed switch and thereby opening said normally open switch, said closure means for the normally open switch being arranged .to operate a predetermined time after reclosure of the normally closed switch.

6. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion enginesincluding a starting circuit having a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including a manual switch, a normally open switch anda normally closed switch, closure of all said switches being necessary to complete the control circuit; means whereby closure of the manual switch causes closure of the normally open switch after a predetermined time, means responsive to selfoperation of the engine for opening said normally closed switch and thereby opening said normally open switch, said closure means for the normally open switch being arranged to operate a predetermined time after reclosure ofthe normally closed switch and means for preventing immediate reclosure oi the normally open switch in case the normally closed switch opens and immediately recloses due to a false start oi' the engine.

'1. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a magnetic starting switch having an actuating electromagnet, a circuit for controlling said switch including in series a manual switch, a set of normally open contacts and said electromagnet, means energized by closure of the manual switch for closing said contacts to therebycomplete the control circuit. and means for opening said control circuit and deenergizing said closing means responsive to the seltoperation of the engine.

8. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a magnetic starting switch having an actuating electromagnet, a circuit for controlling said switch, including in series a manual switch, a set of normally open contacts and said electromagnet, means Aenergized by closure of the manual switch for closing said contacts to thereby complete the control circuit, auxiliary means energized by the control circuit for holding said contacts closed during cranking, and means for opening said control circuit and deenergizing said closing means responsive to the self-operation of the engine.

9. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch and a pair of normally open contacts, thermostatic means energized by closure of the manual switch for closing said contacts,

means energized by completion of the control circuit for holding said contacts closed during cranking and thermostatic means energized by closure of said contacts for opening said contaets when said holding means is deenergized and preventing reclosure thereof for a predetermined time.

10. Automatic starting mechanism for internal 5 combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor, a manual switch, a pair of normally open contacts, a thermostatic element lfor closing said contacts, and a pair of normally closed contacts all included in said control circuit; and an auxiliary heating circuit for said thermostatic element including said manual switch and said normally closedv contacts.

11. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor, a manual switch, a pair of normally open contacts, a thermostatic element for closing said contacts, 'and a pair of normally closed contacts all included in 20 said control circuit; an auxiliary heating circuit for said thermostatic element including said manual switch and said normally closed contacts, and means for opening said normally closed contacts to break both the vcontrol circuit and 25 the auxiliary heating circuit when the engine starts.

12. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a M manual switch, a pair of normally open contacts, a thermostatic element for closing said contaets and a pair of normally closed contacts; a heating circuit for said thermostatic element including said manual switch and said normally closedcontacts, and means for opening said normally closed contacts when the engine starts, said control circuit also including a thermostatic element for preventing reclosure of the normally open contacts ior a predetermined time after clo- 40 sure of said normally closed contacts.

13. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch, a pair of normally open contacts, 45 a thermostatic element for closing said contacts, ,and a pair of normally closed contacts, a heating circuit for said thermostatic element including said manual switch and said normally closed contacts, means for opening said normally closed 50 contacts when'the enginel starts, said control circuit also including a thermostatic element for preventing reclosure of the normally open contacts for a predetermined time after closure of said normally closed contacts, and magnetic means 55 responsive to closure of the control circuit"for holding said normally open contacts closed during cranking.

14. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, including a magnetic start- 00 ing switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch, a pair of normally closed contacts, a thermostatic contact member having a heating element normally grounded through said normally closed contacts to form a heating circuit, and a second thermostatic element having a heating element in said control circuit and hav- Y ing a contact adjacent the first thermostatic contact adapted to be engaged thereby to complete the control circuit when said rst thermo- 7 static element is heated.

15. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch, a pair of normally closed contacts, u

a thermostatic contact member having a heating element normally grounded through said normaliy closed contacts to form a heating circuit, a second thermostatic element having a heating element in said control circuit and having a contact adjacent the rst thermostatic contact adapted to be engaged thereby to complete the control circuit when said iirst thermostatic element is heated, means energized from the control circuit for holding the thermostatic contacts closed during cranking ci the engine, and means for opening said normally closed contacts when the engine starts.

16. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch, a pair of normally closed contacts, a thermostatic contact member having a heating element normally grounded through said normally closed. contacts to form a heating circuit, a second thennostatic element having a heating eiement in said. control circuit and having a contact adjacent the first thermostatic contact adapted to be engaged thereby to complete the control circuit when said rst thermostatic element is heated, means energized from the control circuit for holding the thermostatic contacts closed during cranking oi the engine, and means Ior opening said normally closed contacts when the engine starts, said second thermostatic element being arranged when heated to move'its contact away from the first thermostatic contact to prevent reclosure of the thermostatic contacts until said second thermostatic element has cooled oil.

17. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit, includ ing a starting switch, a control circuit including a manual switch, a set oi normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts; means responsive to closure of the manual switch ior closing said normally open contacts after a predetermined time interval, means responsive to selioperation of the engine for opening said normally closed contacts, means for thereupon opening said normally open contacts, and means for preventing reclosure of. the normally open contacts for a predetermined time after reclosure o! the normally closed contacts.

DANIEL L. WER'IZ. 

